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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 289, 8 December 1870, Page 2

Scientific Association. — This society held its monthly meeting last evening, Dr. Williams in the chair. There was a large attendance, and ten new members were elected, and four put up for ballot at the next meeting. Owing to Mr. Simmons' absence the further discussion on his paper on " Higher Education," was adjourned till next meeting. Mr. Avery read his paper on u the Prevention of spontaneous combustion in wool and flax," in which were embodied a large number of extracts from newspapers that might have been greatly condensed without any detriment to the importauce of the subject. "We are not sufficiently acquainted with the feasibility of Mr. Avery's invention to pass an opinion on its merits, but he certaiuly deserves every credit for bringing the matter forward, and we trust it may be of practical benefit to him. The exhibition of some samples of door-mats and floormatting made of New Zealand flax closed the business of the evening. Rural Spoets.-— As the time for the New Year's sports is rapidly approaching we would call the attention of the CaledoDian Society to the following extract from the Lyttelton Times descriptive of a new feature to be introduced into the Canterbury sports. It is called tilting at Quintain and is thus described : — " The Quintain is ar. upright pole with a long cross bar on the top — forming as it were the letter T — and the bar is fixed on a pivot, so as to revolve at the slightest touch. At one end of the cross bar a small target is fixed, from the other a bag oi sand or chaff well floured is suspended. The horseman with lance in rest tilts at the target at a hand gallop, and after striking ihe plate with the point of his lance must avoid the bag which the blow causes to revolve. The target is of a dark color, and the tip of the lance being dipped in whiting, shows the exact spot struck. Each competitor has three tilts and the target has both a bull's-eye and outer. If there are sufficient entries, this sport is likely to cause considerable amusement. Mount Eochfoet Coal Mine. — We are glad to find that the Westport people are taking some steps in the direction of interesting the outside public in the Mount Eochfort mine. Some short time since they sent a few bags of the coal to a Mr. Chambers, of the Wellington Gold and Tin Mining Company, Melbourne, for the purpose of having it tested. A letter received from Mr. Chambers in reply, appears in the Westport Times of Saturday last, in which, after stating that he had not up to that time been able to get the coal tried, and a report furnished thereon goes on to ask some really practical questions relative to the mine, aud to give his views on the probability of a company being formed to work it. The cost of constructing a line of railway, he says, will be a great! drawback in floating a company to work the mine, however, if you can let me know what inducement the Government will give to a company prepared to work it, and on what terms a lease of the coal district can be obtained, I will give as much publicity as possible to it, and will do all in my power to get a compauy started. Mr. Chambers goes on to say — " There is.no doubt but a good thing will be made out of the coal-mine by any company fortunate enough to take it up, with sufficient capital to develope it properly. A valuable deposit of coal like that cannot remain long without a trial, and the only wonder is that it has not been opened up before now. A daily increasing demand is springing up for coal ; the Californian trade, together with the islands in the Southern Ocean, which are now attracting a large population will ensure a good market for all the coal that can be raised.